Shoe



R. M. MARTIN Aug. 9, 1949..

SHOE

Filed Dec. 1, 1947 P4 $2. INVENTOR. RUB Y M. Mflf? T/N Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE Ruby M. Martin, Akron, Ohio Application December 1, 1947, Serial No. 789,027

1 Claim. (01. 36-4) This invention relates to shoes.

One object of the invention is to provide a shoe, particularly a ladys shoe, having an improved concealed compartment for containing articles such as a compact, lipstick, etc., the compartment being readily accessible from the exterior of the shoe, without removing the same from the foot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe of the character described in the last paragraph wherein the provision of the concealed compartment will not materially detract from comfortable use of the shoe or from the appearance thereof, and in fact which may be utilized to enhance the attractiveness of the same.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a shoe embodying the features of the invention in normal condition of wearing use thereof.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the shoe, but with the heel part detached to expose a storage compartment therein.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the heel end of the shoe in the closed condition thereof, partly broken away and in section through said compartment.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the numeral III designates a so-called Wedgie type ladys shoe, having the usual upper II and bottom I2. The upper II has a middle sole Ila of leather, for example, sewed or otherwise permanently attached thereto, and is provided with the usual inner sole l3.

The bottom I2 includes a sole part I4 of leather or similar flexible material having desired abrasive wearing qualities, the same being sewed or otherwise permanently attached to the upper II from the forepart of the shoe to adjacent the instep thereof. An extension I la of sole part I4 may have layers I6, of suitable material built thereon to provide a relatively thick, wedgeshaped heel part I5. Thus, the heel I5 is swingable on a flexible hinge-like portion of sole part I4, from a point indicated at H, between closed and open positions of the heel, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, respectively.

The heel part I5 is releasably attached to the upper by slide fastener means I8, of known type, extending from the pivot point IT, at one side of the shoe, around the back of the shoe to the 0pposite side thereof, the slide fastener including 2 interlocking half strips I9 and 20 attached as by sewing to the adjacent edge portions of the upper II and heel part I5, respectively. A slide 2I is shiftable around the slide fastener 18 to interlock and release the half strips I9 and 20.

Extending from the inner face 22 of heel part is a recess 23 of substantial depth, the same being adapted to receive a suitable container 24, such as of leather, within which in turn may be such articles as a lady's compact and lipstick kit, money, etc. A finger grip portion 25 on the container facilitates removal thereof from the recess.

For preventing the weight of the shoe wearers foot from depressing the middle sole Ila and inher sole I3 into recess 23, a plate 26 of metal or other relatively stifi material and larger than the mouth of the recess, may be incorporated into the middle sole.

In use of the improved shoe, it is normally worn with the heel part I5 attached to the upper II, by means of slide fastener I8, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. When the shoe wearer is desirous of gaining access to the secret recess or compartment 23, it is a relatively simple matter to move the slide 2I to release the interlocked half strips I9 and 20 to permit swinging the heel to the open position thereof shown in Figure 2. In this open position the fingers are readily insertable between the heel and upper to grasp and remove container 24 from the compartment. In this manner the container is removable and insertable Without removing the shoe from the wearers foot. The opposite shoe of a pair may be similarly utilized for storage of other relatively small articles.

Thus has been provided an improved shoe having a convenient concealed compartment for storage of small articles, and the provision of which does not detract from desired ornamental appearance of the shoe, or interfere with wearing comfort thereof.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A shoe, comprising an upper, an inner sole secured to said upper, an outer sole and heel, said outer sole being permanently attached to said upper at its forepart, said heel being a thickened extension of said outer sole and flexibly attached thereto along a hinge line laterally of the shoe adjacent the shank of the same, whereby said heel is swingable about said hinge line toward and from an open position in which the upper face of the heel is freely exposed, releasable slide fastener means for locking said heel to 3 4 said upper and insole in a closed position and including interlocking half strips extending REFERENCES CITED around adjacent portions of said heel and said Th following references are of record in the pper and a slide key for releasably interlocking file Of this P said half strips, said heel part having a recess in 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS said upper face thereof accessible only in said open position and providing space for containing Number Name Date one or more articles, and stiffening means car- 2,205,091 Gefiner June 13, 1940 ried by said inner sole over said heel recess for 2303330 Oakley July 16, 1940 supporting the heel of the wearer of the shoe 10 against entry into the recess.

RUBY M. MARTIN. 

